The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage trademark quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority can make a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. However, they come with an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This allows you to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. It's also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put with a new cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered ground that are compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done, it can brew one cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best models are easy to operate. The majority of machines employ the same basic method to make the perfect cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in reservoirs, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different requirements, and you can save custom settings on many models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules from famous roasters. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then discarded, while others are designed to be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to plan out how you'll deal with your spent pods so they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer coffee pods coffee machine various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to switch to drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. It has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can make standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are easy to use using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop your coffee maker. It takes a bit of force to close but our test subjects, even those with limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply load in one of the pods, press an icon and brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to get from it. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the right machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi, which uses an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This method removes all the guesswork of making a cup and makes sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button, so that you can create them using one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than most, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than some models but it offers the polished stainless steel construction and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a great choice for those who want an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the used pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customization is a major reason it may not be the best option for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. For many people this won't be a problem but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are seeking.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of the Smeg fifties range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor issue. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company, which can be pricey. However, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.